The paths of life are an opportunity.
God uses circumstances to teach.
Especially, when we humble our hearts.
He’s been using this season, the holidays as well as unpacking, to teach and remind me of truths.
One day, He showed me an error in my perspective.
It was while taking a picture.
I was unhappy with one thing after another.
Nothing was “looking right” and it hit me, I was trying to make our everyday look like a fake magazine photo.
I needed to get my perspective correct: life isn’t a photo op.
Rather than trying to make my own “ideal”, I needed to relinquish every part of myself into His hands and be thankful for what He has given.
Once these things were done, through prayer, I was able to take a photo and move on with joy and gratitude.
Through this season the Lord has reminded me to focus on people, not things.
We had people come by on more than one occasion and due to our “under construction” things weren’t put away or finished.
Each time I opened the door, the Lord reminded me: simply love.
A good hostess is one who loves others.
It’s an outpouring of the love she receives daily from the Lord.
So, I could smile and enjoy my guests, while warning them to not trip on the old flooring we hadn’t gotten to yet.
The Lord has taught me that it’s not about forcing things, but rather doing the task at hand while resting in His love.
It’s a lesson I have learned before and will probably continue to learn for the rest of my life.
Because it doesn’t come naturally for me to wait on the Lord.
My nature says things which are not founded in scripture like: “God helps those who help themselves.”
It’s crazy how God’s truth can be twisted into something which leads to sin.
I can almost picture the hiss from the forked tongue as Eve stood near the tree, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1b
Leaning on my own strength is an old sin of mine, but I praise God for His patience with me and His lessons.
He has helped me walk forward into His truth and to rejoice in what He has for each of my days.
Some days, it’s easier to rejoice than others.
Some days, it’s easier to trust than others.
On Christmas day we were looking forward to having Bell and her husband here, as they only live about 40 minutes away.
Our oldest daughter and family had gotten snow on Christmas Eve, so we didn’t know if they were going to be able to come.
Bell’s husband rang up my husband with news that another storm was predicted and snow was probable for the entire region.
After some discussion, the two men decided it was safest for them to remain home.
I was deeply disappointed.
If they weren’t coming, I felt sure our oldest daughter and family wasn’t coming either.
Through this, the Lord reminded me of something He’d told me days before: let go of tradition.
Because the Jewish people of Jesus’s day clung to tradition they actually missed God in the flesh.
I knew I didn’t want my tradition or my expectations to be more important than my Lord.
After all, we had two of our children with us, and so much to be thankful for.
The Lord then reminded me of several people who find the holidays especially difficult due to the loss of loved ones.
God reminded me to pray for those whose disappointed traditions would never be the same.
My heart was completely overwhelmed when, a few hours later, all of our children arrived.
The storm wasn’t supposed to hit until evening, so both sons-in-laws had individually chosen to come early and leave before the storm hit.
Words can’t express my gratitude to the Lord for giving me back what I had given up.
God is truly amazing.
I am so thankful for each day, each lesson He has taught me through this season.
We don’t have as much finished with either the house or unpacking as I was wanting to get done by now.
However, God has used it and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I look forward to seeing what else God is going to do through this season.
As we look forward to the new year, I’m full of anticipation.
Because each day is an opportunity, each year a gift from God.
Psalm 92:2 KJV — To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for today. Thank You for the lessons of this season we are in. Lord, thank You for Your Word. Please continue to teach my heart and mind, that I might continue to draw closer to You. Lord Jesus, please show me anything which is not lining up with You and Your ways. Please help me to be full of gratitude and praise in every circumstance. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for today. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 